Six rental power corruption references returned after NAB amendments

The Accountability court on Tuesday returned six rental power corruption references filed against former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, claiming the references can not be heard in the accountability court after the recent amendments to the NAB laws, ARY News reported. 

According to details, Accountability court judge Syed Asghar Ali returned the six references against National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. The references cannot be heard in the accountability court after the recent amendments to the NAB law, the judge remarked.

The six references include the Reshman, Gulf, Samundri, Rato Dero, and Satyana power references.

Earlier in May, the federal govt had made radical changes to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 in a bid to curtail the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to the new amendments no arrests could be made before the completion of the investigation process, and the suspect will have the right to obtain bail while 90-day remand is also abolished.

The 90-day remand was reduced to 14 days, and no defamation campaign could be carried out unless the suspect is convicted in the case. The case could not be used for political purposes in the assets beyond means case.

Also Read: SC issues notice to Centre on Imran Khan’s plea against NAB laws

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had said that NAB will now be bound to initiate an inquiry within six months of the complaint, contrary to previous procedure when there was no time limit.